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I pride myself on not cursing, and I am not. 
I am accurately describing my basement and the sewage backing up into it. I will have fun coming up with ways to describe the dung piles.
First some background. I bought this house last December.
Last spring, the plumber came by to see if my sewer was backing up. It was not, fortunately. Then later my neighbor mentioned that he had an arrangement with the old owner where they split the plumbing bill 3 ways when the pipes backed up. Also, the plumber only charged for the 1 visit instead of 3. I was mowing the lawn, so I had some time to think it over.
At first, I thought *well, it did not back up into my house. how bad could it be?*
But, thinking about it some more *then again, if they set up this arrangement, it must happen on a simi-routine basis. I do want to stay on his good side and he could use the help, I'm sure.* (side: we have a strange property line, though the middle of our garage. also, he has a medical condition where he is wheelchair bound and has a medical aid with him at all times) I like to think I am a good person by nature, so I agreed to this arrangement. Heck, at the very least I would save some money if it only backed up into mine 50% of the time.
This fall, it backed up twice in the last month. Leaving a good amount of human fecal matter in the basement. I paid $120 between the 3 visits, saving a lot of time and money. Yep, really good call on agreeing to splitting the bill.
Apparently, the problem started several years ago, but only happened once a year. Last year it happen twice. Then this year
Understand, these houses were built back in the 1940s. Iron was in short supply because of the war effort. They used Orangeburg pipe (good article). It is essentially, Tar and Paper (impregnated wood fiber technically). Good pipe, lasted 60+ years.
Sadly, the tree in my yard crushes the pipe every time the roots decide to grow (like spring and fall). It just loves all that tasty human fertilizer. So the pipes need replacing, sooner rather than later. (I am tired of cleaning my own excrement)
This is going to get rather expensive. Fortunately, my still awesome neighbors wants to split the bill. So instead of the piping guys coming out 3 times, they come once. The low end estimate is $2000 (I never plan low end, problems come up. I plan $5000 to be safe).
My bank will extend my house loan to cover the cost, because no one wants a house with a basement full of feculence. (God bless the thesaurus, I was running out
) So I know I have the cost covered, at least.
So today, the sewage pipe is clear, for now. Hopefully, we can get the new line put in by spring (when tree roots start growing again). And I bet you did not expect a thread to unironically link to a website about Sewer History. (though you are less surprised by the thesaurus link about poo.
Really fun time looking this one up. 
)
One last tiny note to end things.
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES MIX BLEACH AND PINE SOL.
This will produce chloroform, which is dangourous and will poison you. I knew this before hand (because I have the superpower of reading labels and passing high school science
), but I had to stop a "helpful" friend. Acid+Bleach=Poison gas.
I am accurately describing my basement and the sewage backing up into it. I will have fun coming up with ways to describe the dung piles.First some background. I bought this house last December.
Last spring, the plumber came by to see if my sewer was backing up. It was not, fortunately. Then later my neighbor mentioned that he had an arrangement with the old owner where they split the plumbing bill 3 ways when the pipes backed up. Also, the plumber only charged for the 1 visit instead of 3. I was mowing the lawn, so I had some time to think it over.
At first, I thought *well, it did not back up into my house. how bad could it be?*
But, thinking about it some more *then again, if they set up this arrangement, it must happen on a simi-routine basis. I do want to stay on his good side and he could use the help, I'm sure.* (side: we have a strange property line, though the middle of our garage. also, he has a medical condition where he is wheelchair bound and has a medical aid with him at all times) I like to think I am a good person by nature, so I agreed to this arrangement. Heck, at the very least I would save some money if it only backed up into mine 50% of the time.
This fall, it backed up twice in the last month. Leaving a good amount of human fecal matter in the basement. I paid $120 between the 3 visits, saving a lot of time and money. Yep, really good call on agreeing to splitting the bill.
Apparently, the problem started several years ago, but only happened once a year. Last year it happen twice. Then this year
Understand, these houses were built back in the 1940s. Iron was in short supply because of the war effort. They used Orangeburg pipe (good article). It is essentially, Tar and Paper (impregnated wood fiber technically). Good pipe, lasted 60+ years.
Sadly, the tree in my yard crushes the pipe every time the roots decide to grow (like spring and fall). It just loves all that tasty human fertilizer. So the pipes need replacing, sooner rather than later. (I am tired of cleaning my own excrement)
This is going to get rather expensive. Fortunately, my still awesome neighbors wants to split the bill. So instead of the piping guys coming out 3 times, they come once. The low end estimate is $2000 (I never plan low end, problems come up. I plan $5000 to be safe).
My bank will extend my house loan to cover the cost, because no one wants a house with a basement full of feculence. (God bless the thesaurus, I was running out
) So I know I have the cost covered, at least.So today, the sewage pipe is clear, for now. Hopefully, we can get the new line put in by spring (when tree roots start growing again). And I bet you did not expect a thread to unironically link to a website about Sewer History. (though you are less surprised by the thesaurus link about poo.
Really fun time looking this one up. )One last tiny note to end things.
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES MIX BLEACH AND PINE SOL.
This will produce chloroform, which is dangourous and will poison you. I knew this before hand (because I have the superpower of reading labels and passing high school science
), but I had to stop a "helpful" friend. Acid+Bleach=Poison gas.
And yeah, reading labels is the greatest underrated super power out there. Right behind common sense.
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